Local Election Candidates’ Meetings Planned

Potential candidates for the local government elections will have the opportunity to learn more about the election process in coming weeks.

Many local councils and the HBDHB are holding information meetings for potential candidates to outline the election process and answer candidates’ questions.

The candidate meetings scheduled in Hawke’s Bay are -

Wairoa District Council - Tuesday, 28 June, 5.30pm at the War Memorial Hall.

HB District Health Board - Tuesday 19 July, 5pm-6pm at Napier Health centre, Wellesley Road Napier; and Wednesday 20 July, 5pm-6pm at HBDHB Corporate office, 2nd Floor GJ Gardener Building , cnr Mcleod Street and Omahu Road Hastings.

Napier City Council - Wednesday 20 July, 7pm at Napier City Council

CHB District Council will be holding a candidate briefing meeting at a date and time to be confirmed.

Members of the public are also welcome at these meetings. Hastings District Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council will not be holding candidate meetings but, as with all councils, welcome potential candidates to contact the Electoral Officer to arrange confidential discussion meetings.

Nominations for local election candidates will be open from 15 July to 12 August. Anyone over the age of 18 can stand for election as long as they are a New Zealand citizen and enrolled on the electoral roll. Councils need a range of elected members of different ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to represent the diversity of our community.

Candidate handbooks will be available from councils, from Electoral Officers and online as well as atwww.vote2016.co.nz.

The local government sector plays an important role. In addition to giving citizens a say in how their communities are run, councils own a broad range of community assets worth more than $120 billion. These include 90 per cent of New Zealand's road network, the bulk of the country's water and waste water networks, and libraries, recreation and community facilities. Council expenditure is approximately $8.5 billion dollars, representing approximately four per cent of Gross Domestic Product and 11 per cent of all public expenditure.

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